The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-03-17


Hts Eject On FlsrsAa anA Perna.-
We are in possession Of the full text of the
Inter State Commerce Act IN the February
number Of Bsainardb Leul Precedenta an
excellent compend Of decisions in The several
Departments at Washington.
The act applies BY its tesms 10 any carriers
engaged in carrying passenger By rail, or partly
6y rail and partly by water when both are used
from one State to any other State, but does moi
Apply 10 carving passe ngen or freight wholly
The second section f,rbids discrimination in
charges on interstate commerce.
The third section forbids discrimination a. be-
tween any connecting lineA or in favor or
against any localities
TIE fourth section forbids charging auy great.
er compensation in the agsrre.ie for carrying
ireignt or passengers, under substantially simi
lar circumstances and conditions" for shorter
than ior longer distance, over the same line in
Inc same direction, the shoSter being included
within the longer distance, but this NOT 10 he
construed rs authorizing tGcharge and receive
as great compensation for shorter as tor
longer ais'ance-snb3ect, however, to the deci-
Section nve forbitls combinations and poolinps
by railroads
Section six requires the schedule of rates and
charges TO be open 10 public inspection in every
depot or station; also regulates the mode of
altering rates, etc
the railroad compares and the powers of the
commissioner
lne tweniy-second section permits reductions
OF fares In special cases, and 4lso mileage excur
sion or Communication tickets, clergy rates, etc.
Ihe twenty-iourIll section provides that the
law shall go into effect in sixty days after its pas
sag, which will be on April 4 1887.
In this State the Savannah, Florida and West
ern Railway will come under its provisions; and
also the Pensacola and Atlantic from Chrttahoo.
chez to Pensacola, unless organized separately
from the Louisville and Nashville The Florida
Railway and Navigation Company, the jackson
vile, Tampa and Key West Ralw av, the Florida
Southern Railway and the South Florida Rail
road will not be affected by il within the State
An important effect is claimed for the law as
affecting Mobile. The railroad companies, by
reducing rates from New York whenever q
steamer line was put on, have managed 10 freeze
out The steamships. 1t is claimed that under
any longer pursue that policy
no" VIII II, then, affect Fernandina? The
restrictions OF the act do not apply to the Flor
ida Railway and Navigation Company their
railway being'entirely within this State, except
when receiving or transferring freight or pas
sengers to the roads of other States Nor do
the steamships from Fernandina TO New York
fall within its provisions.
All freight brought into Florida by rail comes
under this act 1t would seem, then, that the
Florida Railway & Navigation Company can re-
ceive freight and passengers arriving by sea on
any terms il and the steamship lines choose 10
make. The railroad companies will necessarily
be obliged TO raise the tariff on through freights,
while the steamships coming direct can make
rates which will take freights from the railroad
lines This will be to their advantage, also, in
in competition with the steamship lines 10 Sa-
vannah. AS all freight for Florida. coming via
Savannah and Charleston will be subject to the
restrictions OF the later State Commerce Act,
the steamers direct to Florida will have an ad-
vantage, which they will make use Of
Tbs being the case, il will enable our direct
steamship lines TO bring In freight ut cheaper
rates than any lines which are part rail and part
water or all rail-
This should be a great advantage to Fernan-
dina and build up an enlarged commerce, and
lead to concentration here OF all freghts com
ing TO or going ont of Florida in the direction ol
New York and E.siern cities. We suggest that
this ought to attract the aitenG7sn OF business
men to this locality, afording superior facili-
ties for the transaction of wholesale and retail
business Of every description, on account OF low
freight rates which can be made to this port by
the steamship lines.